Wonderful Western Australia!

Western Australia can sometimes be overlooked in favour of Australia’s more famous eastern states, but for travellers seeking space, diversity, and experiences that feel genuinely untouched, it’s just the ticket. Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are vibrant but busy, thronging with locals and tourists alike. By contrast, Perth is one of the most isolated capital cities in the world, and here life moves at a calmer pace. The beaches are rarely overcrowded, and visitors will feel like they’ve discovered something special rather than followed a travel checklist. Western Australia covers nearly a third of the Australian continent, and much of it remains sparsely populated with a rare feeling of openness and some extraordinary natural landscapes, such the Pinnacles Desert, the deep gorges of Karijini National Park and Ningaloo Reef - one of the few places in the world where visitors can snorkel directly from the shore alongside whale sharks and manta rays. WA offers a sense of scale, natural drama, and quiet authenticity, and Tracey, Branch Manager of our Framlingham shop, could not wait to explore the region around Perth, courtesy of First Class Holidays and Western Australia Tourism:

“Flying with Malaysia Airlines, we enjoyed a two-night stop-over in Kuala Lumpur and then a further two in Penang, which was great to break up the journey and experience some of Asia. Arrival at Perth airport was a smooth process - it’s a lovely airport with very friendly staff. I had thought Perth would feel relatively small as a city, but in fact it’s relatively big with lots going on - very vibrant and cultural. Our itinerary took us to four different hotels to get a real flavour for the region, and the activities we took part in were all within half hour to an hour from Perth, so there was never too much travelling time to our next destination.

Intercontinental Perth City Centre - This is a lovely hotel in a perfect mid-city location within easy walking distance of the main attractions. There was a spa and top floor bar which was a great place for meeting people and relaxing with friends. Whilst staying here we had a walking tour of Perth to see all the street art - you may think street art can be tacky, but this was amazing and like walking through an outdoor art gallery! We stopped at a quirky little bar, tucked out of the main streets, and the whole tour was a great start to get a real feel for the city.

The following day we travelled to Rockingham for a boat ride to a cove to watch and swim with wild dolphins. The beach was beautiful white sand, and the sea was a perfect blue. The guide wore a shark deterrent on her ankle, and I couldn’t decide if this made me feel reassured or actually more nervous!

After our exciting start to the day, we travelled on to Busselton Jetty, just a short half hour ride. The pier is the second longest in the world – with our own Southend Pier taking the title! We took a train up the pier and visited the underwater observatory, where the fish took a turn watching us in a tank, as opposed to the other way round!

Hilton Garden Inn Busselton – Our hotel for the night was in a perfect location, directly opposite the jetty and across the road from the Shelter Brewing Co which is a great restaurant for pizza and simple dishes with outstanding views of the sea - really worth a visit. The following day we took a trip to Ngilgi Caves and enjoyed learning about the indigenous Aboriginal people of Western Australia. Our guide Josh was a descendant of the very people we were learning about and we enjoyed the digeridoo being played deep within the cave.

Smiths Beach Resort (Margaret River Region) - This resort is beautiful, with beach fronted self-catering apartments and houses, swimming pools and a large restaurant which offers great food. As well as being a real haven for beach lovers, the resort is situated on part of the Cape to Cape path, so it’s also ideal for walkers.

The Margaret River region rivals any wine destination in the country, producing world-class wines alongside local cheeses, fresh seafood, and artisanal produce. We visited both the Leeuwin Estate and Vasse Felix, who both offer amazing wine and food pairing experiences.

That evening we had a nocturnal walk, which was wonderful! We met and fed wild kangaroos, also spotting a Huntsman Spider and Possums amongst many other creatures. Due to its isolation, Western Australia is also one of the best places in the world to go stargazing, so looking up at the night sky was mesmerizing!

The next day we stopped at Freemantle Prison, which was a unique and interesting experience. Built as a convict barracks in the 19th century, it remained in continual use until 1991, witnessing hangings, dramatic escapes and riots across the years. Here we learnt about the early history of Western Australia and the prison’s role in its development - I thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. Travelling on from the prison we took the ferry from Fremantle to the destination I was most looking forward to on the itinerary!

Discovery Resorts – Rottnest Island - My first impression on arrival was that of a holiday park - everything was there, restaurants, shops, swimming pools, bike rentals, football pitches and of course lots and lots of Quokkas! These super-cute herbivores are about the size of a cat and look like a cross between a small kangaroo and a hamster! You aren’t allowed to touch or disturb them, but they do seem to like having people around - with no natural predators on the island, they have no fear of humans and are happy to pose for selfies!

We stayed in large glamping tents which were amazing, with everything you could possibly need throughout your stay. After a great night’s sleep, we hired e-bikes and took a long ride around the island. Leaving the holiday park, the island became completely different - quiet, beautiful and serene. The coastline was stunning and further inland the countryside was gorgeous. I’m so happy we were able to visit Rottnest and see all the island has to offer.

During my days in Western Australia, I have had so many new and wonderful experiences that I will carry with me forever. I’ve been amazed at the diversity of what can be experienced within such a short drive from Perth. Absolutely anyone would enjoy visiting the region - young or old, adventurous or laid back, there is something for everyone to do or see.